Danoff
Premium
- 34,109
- Mile High City
Do you believe in choice?
Do you believe that the outcome of our lives is fundamentally in our hands or in societys? Do you believe that if a person starts from humble beginnings that person can become anything they choose through hard work and dedication or is it impossible to have a society that permits this?
Lets restrict the discussion to what I would refer to as the normal person. It is not necessary to include handicapped, mentally retarded, or otherwise incapable people in this discussion. I think we can all agree that the choices a brain-dead person might make (not that thats possible) would not affect the outcome the hed still be a vegetable. Similarly I think we can agree that someone who is born blind will most likely not be a fighter pilot.
At some point, a persons choices in life may restrict the possibilities. I currently cannot become an Olympic gymnast. Im too old to even compete let alone start the training. The choices I made (and my parents made) when I was 7 years old determined that outcome. Genetics plays a role as well in athletic sports so to some extent I have to play the cards I am delt.
But lets think about poverty vs. riches. If Im born into a poor family do I have a choice to become rich? Is that an avenue that is open to me? Am I fated to become poor? Am I trapped in poverty or is there a sequence of decisions I can make to better my situation? You might say it depends, if you think that, provide me with an example one way or the other.
I do not believe that human beings cannot overcome their starting place. I recognize that some will have advantage over others, and thats a good and desirable thing for other reasons. I have known many poor people and all of them continue to be poor because of the decisions they make. Ive known people who are crossing the boundaries both ways poor to rich and rich to poor. I dont believe in the idea that people become trapped in a free society.
Do you believe that the outcome of our lives is fundamentally in our hands or in societys? Do you believe that if a person starts from humble beginnings that person can become anything they choose through hard work and dedication or is it impossible to have a society that permits this?
Lets restrict the discussion to what I would refer to as the normal person. It is not necessary to include handicapped, mentally retarded, or otherwise incapable people in this discussion. I think we can all agree that the choices a brain-dead person might make (not that thats possible) would not affect the outcome the hed still be a vegetable. Similarly I think we can agree that someone who is born blind will most likely not be a fighter pilot.
At some point, a persons choices in life may restrict the possibilities. I currently cannot become an Olympic gymnast. Im too old to even compete let alone start the training. The choices I made (and my parents made) when I was 7 years old determined that outcome. Genetics plays a role as well in athletic sports so to some extent I have to play the cards I am delt.
But lets think about poverty vs. riches. If Im born into a poor family do I have a choice to become rich? Is that an avenue that is open to me? Am I fated to become poor? Am I trapped in poverty or is there a sequence of decisions I can make to better my situation? You might say it depends, if you think that, provide me with an example one way or the other.
I do not believe that human beings cannot overcome their starting place. I recognize that some will have advantage over others, and thats a good and desirable thing for other reasons. I have known many poor people and all of them continue to be poor because of the decisions they make. Ive known people who are crossing the boundaries both ways poor to rich and rich to poor. I dont believe in the idea that people become trapped in a free society.
